Will BYD bring this miracle EV charging tech to Malaysia after it rolls out in China
While many in the East are slowly but surely turning to electric vehicles (EVs) and adopting them at higher rates than before, the main challenge with these cars remains, the abysmal range and the extremely long charging times compared to the 2 minutes it takes to fill a petrol engine up. Well, BYD now reportedly has a solution for the latter problem.
BYD has apparently introduced what it calls the “megawatt charging system” that it claims can charge an EV as quickly as refueling a petrol car. BYD has also announced plans to build an extensive charging network across China, so will this cause President Trump to add even more tariffs? I hope not.
Moreover, in China, fast-charging EVs have become increasingly more common. The rapid adoption of EVs in China has been partly fueled by innovation, which have made EVs a more attractive option compared to traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. However, up until now, no EV has ever been able to charge nearly as fast as an ICE car can be fueled up.
BYD’s new “super e-platform” boasts a peak charging capacity of 1,000kW, allowing for up to 400km (249 miles) of range after charging for just 5 minutes. To achieve this, BYD has developed an array of advanced technologies like high-performance batteries with a 10C charging multiplier that allow for charging at 10 times the battery’s capacity per hour.
On top of that, to support its new super e-platform, BYD also plans to establish more than 4,000 fast-charging stations across China. Although no specific timeline has been set, this initiative will significantly enhance BYD’s EV ecosystem. BYD founder Wang Chuanfu has also called for external investment to accelerate the development of the charging network.
However, BYD does still have to deal with stiff competition. The biggest of which is Nio, another Chinese EV manufacturer, already boasts the largest charging network in China, with nearly 2,700 fast-charging stations. What’s more, there are still many concerns about the impact of super fast charging on the power grid.
Despite the exciting prospects of fast-charging technology, analysts warn that the widespread adoption of ultra-fast chargers could strain existing grid infrastructure, requiring substantial upgrades. To address this, BYD plans to equip its fast-charging stations with energy storage units, but how effective this will be remains to be seen.
We got all this from Reuters and their full article is linked here. Thank you Reuters for the information and images.
